Ford CEO Jim Farley announces at a press conference that Ford Motor Organization will be partnering with the worlds major battery corporation, a China-based mostly organization known as Up to date Amperex Know-how, to develop an electric powered-car or truck battery plant in Marshall, Michigan, on February 13, 2023 in Romulus, Michigan.
Monthly bill Pugliano | Getty Photographs Information | Getty Pictures
DETROIT — Ford Motor is suspending generation of its electrical F-150 Lightning pickup for a different week subsequent a battery situation that resulted in one particular of the cars catching hearth early this thirty day period.
Ford mentioned Friday its battery provider, SK, has began developing battery cells once more at a plant in Ga but it will acquire time “to assure they are back to constructing large-quality cells and to deliver them to the Lightning production line.”
“The groups labored rapidly to identify the root cause of the situation,” Ford explained in a statement Friday. “We agree with SK’s proposed alterations in their devices and procedures for SK’s cell production lines.”
Ford very last week said it envisioned Lightning production to be down as a result of at the very least this 7 days, as engineers identified the root lead to of the battery issue and applied enhancements to the production procedure.
The hearth transpired Feb. 4 in a keeping great deal through a pre-shipping and delivery high quality examine although the motor vehicle was charging, adopted by Ford suspending creation and issuing a cease-cargo of the autos to sellers. Ford said engineers established there was no evidence of a charging fault.
Ford reported it is not conscious of any incidents of this challenge in motor vehicles that have by now been sent to consumers and dealers.
The F-150 Lightning is becoming carefully watched by traders, as it is really the initial mainstream electric pickup truck on the current market and a significant start for Ford.
The battery situation adds to ongoing “execution difficulties” detailed to traders earlier this thirty day period by Ford CEO Jim Farley that crippled the automaker’s fourth-quarter earnings.